Shoulder pain is very common. Because they’re the most movable joints in your body, your shoulders are very prone to the effects of injuries and degenerative conditions.
Possibly, shoulder pain can radiate down into your arm. Conversely, a condition that may affect your upper arm also may be felt around your shoulder.
You must be wondering about the most common causes of right shoulder and arm pain.
Table of Contents
Causes
Pain around the upper arm and shoulder
This happens when the pain is localized in the area of your shoulder and the upper part of your arms. The conditions that cause this include:
- Rotator cuff disease: Pain can be felt at the front of the shoulder.
- Torn rotator cuff: This pain begins near the shoulder.
- Dislocated shoulder: Pain from a shoulder dislocation that most acutely feels near the shoulder.
- Broken collarbone: The pain from the broken collarbone can feel close to the shoulder, particularly when moving your arm.
- Frozen shoulder: This pain typically comes on gradually and feels dull and deep.
- Calcific tendinitis: Pain due to calcific tendonitis can be severe and start suddenly, usually in the morning.
- Shoulder sprain: You can feel pain from your shoulder sprain in your upper arm and collarbone.
- Separated shoulder: This pain may feel around your shoulder and upper arm.
- Shoulder osteoarthritis and R.A.: People with arthritis often feel a deep ache in their shoulder and upper arm.
- Brachial neuritis: Pain from brachial neuritis is severe and most often happens in the shoulder and upper arm area.
- Brachial plexus injury: This pain can happen around the shoulder and upper arm. It may be long-lasting.
Pain between the shoulder and elbow
In some cases, pain can feel in both the right shoulder area and down towards your right elbow. Few causes are:
- Rotator cuff disease: Pain can occur to radiate from the shoulder side of your upper arm.
- Torn rotator cuff: Shoulder pain radiating down your arm to the area of your elbow.
- Dislocated shoulder: The pain from the dislocated shoulder can spread down to the upper arm.
- Upper arm fracture: A break in the upper arm can cause pain around your shoulder and throughout your upper arm.
- Frozen shoulder: Pain from a frozen shoulder can also spread into your right bicep.
- Calcific tendinitis: Similar to frozen shoulder, pain from calcific tendinitis can spread down into your bicep area.
Symptoms
You may feel any of the symptoms in or around your right shoulder and arm, including:
Pain happens when:
- Moving your right shoulder or arm when raising, dropping, or rotating your right arm,
- Lying down on the right side
Other symptoms
- Inflammation
- Stiffness
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Loss of range of motion
- Difficulty carrying out your daily activities, including bathing, dressing, and cooking
- A feeling of weakness
- A tingling in your right hand and fingers
- A crackling sensation in your right shoulder when you move your right arm
- A visible deformity
Shoulder pain with heart attack
You may think that a heart attack only radiates to your left shoulder and arm. But, heart attack pain can feel in the shoulders and both arms.
If you are experiencing right shoulder and arm pain with any of the symptoms below, call your physician immediately.
- Chest pain more than a few minutes
- Pain in the neck, jaw, or back
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling dizzy
- Breaking out in a cold sweat
- Nausea or vomiting
Treatment
If you talk with your doctor about your pain, they may recommend the following treatments, depending on the severity of your condition.
- Mobilization: In some cases, limiting the movement of your shoulder or arm may help it heal.
- Corticosteroid injections: Your doctor can inject Corticosteroid into your affected area to reduce inflammation.
- Prescription medications: Prescribed medications may be given for severe pain. Oral corticosteroids can ease inflammation.
- Physical therapy: Your doctor may suggest a list of exercises to do to help you recover strength and flexibility. In some cases, they also may recommend you to work with a physical therapist.
- Surgery: Surgery is recommended when other treatments seem ineffective or when the injury is severe.
Preventions
If your pain is mild to average, you can try the following things before going to your physician.
- Stop doing activities that cause further pain or irritation.
- Apply an icepack to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.
- Bandage or wrap the affected area to help alleviate the swelling.
- Elevate your right shoulder and arm to the level of your heart.
- Regular, gentle stretching can improve flexibility and range of motion.
- Maintain a good posture of your shoulder and arm.
- O.T.C. (over the counter) medications, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can help ease symptoms like pain and swelling.
Exercises
Conclusion
If you have mild to medium pain, you can try using home remedies such as R.I.C.E., exercises, and O.T.C. medications to ease your symptoms. Talk to your doctor if home care isn’t effective and pain happens with numbness or increasing swelling.
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